"I was recording before a lot of that happened, and after it happened, I just continued writing and doing what it was that I was doing," she says. "I was writing to tracks that I loved and I was writing lyrics that just naturally came to me. There wasn't any kind of master plan as far that went. "

In addition to the album, she has also been working on another project: raising her son with Nas, Knight, 11 months. She questions why she didn't try out motherhood sooner and says she's "so in love" with her "funny little creature."

Parenthood "is literally the best thing in the world, and I absolutely love it," she says. "He's got a lot of personality. He's hilarious. He's like a little shrunken man."

As for his unusual name, Kelis has a simple explanation. "I really just wanted something that was strong — something he could live up to."

There are "absolutely" more children in her future, but for now, she's focused on her six-date summer tour with Swedish R&B singer Robyn, which kicks off July 23 in Los Angeles.

When she's not on the road, Kelis likes to cook, so much so that she studied to be a cordon bleu chef after the release of her 2006 album, Kelis Was Here.

She doesn't have time for a culinary career now, but Kelis says she likes entertaining for friends. "I'm a saucier — that's kind of my specialty. I cook everything and I cook all the time. I'm known for my dinner parties," she says.

Her affinity for eating meat and wearing fur caught the attention of animal-rights group PETA, which sent Kelis a letter in January asking that she reconsider her way of living. Kelis fired back a comical letter on her MySpace page, saying, in part, "I would eat pterodactyl if you found some and you told me it was meaty and delicious."

She insists that she's not at war with the group, and, if anything, PETA is unfairly attacking her.

"I don't have a beef with PETA. They targeted me more than one time, and finally I just responded and kind of tickled myself in the process. At the end of the day, they're terrorists, and that's my issue.

"I don't think anybody's beliefs should be forced on anyone like that. I'm an American; I live here. It's my right, and that's my stance on it."

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